Ultimate Beverage Challenge 91 points (Apr 2014)Soft aromas of orange zest, banana, cinnamon and a suggestion of honeysuckle. A rush of dried stone fruits, brown sugar and cherry accompany a surprisingly smoky character. A lengthy finish, quite smooth, with orange zest making an appearance once again. Wine Enthusiast 90 points (Sep 2013)The backstory behind this bottling is that Master Distiller Fred Noe uses a ’barrel sweating’ technique to coax out Bourbon that has soaked into barrels during aging; that extract then is combined with newer whiskey. The end result is a lean and austere Bourbon, with brisk espresso, black tea and fig flavors highlighted by black pepper and clove. Seems made for mixing.